Telegraph system



6. C. CUMMINGS. TELEGHAPM SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED DEC.2?. 1918.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.K

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

GEORGE c. Colvin/irnos, 0E EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AssIGNoE lTo WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED,

0F NEW YORK.

OF NEW" YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION TELECTRAPH SYSTEM.

Application filed December 27, ll.

Be it known that l, @iconen (l. C marinus, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at lilast Orange, in the count)r ot Essex, State of N ew Jersey, have invented certain new and useliul Improvements in '.llelegraph Systems, oi which the following is a lull, clear, concise, and enact description. I

This invention relates to telegraph systems and more partieularlj,7 to telegraph repeater systems.

The principal object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus and organization thereot to perniit reciprocal repeating service between two line sections, or universal repeating of telegraphic signals between :i pluralityY oi line circuits, as between a main line and branch line, without the necessity ol? employing extra sources oi' current supply at a repeater station.

ln accordance. with the present invention there is provided electro-responsive switching or relay Ineans, characterized by a pluralit)r oi' diliierent windings and circuit corr trolling contacts, arranged in such a manner that repeat-ing operations may, automatically, come entirely under the control of seiuiling operations, and all repeating operations niay be carried out through energy supplied by the regular line batteries which inafv be located either at terminal or way stations or at a repeater station.

This invention illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, and for the isalie ol" clearness onl'ut1 so much ot a tele gra ph repeater equipment has been shown as will be necessary to a clear understanding ot the. :tentures oil" this system.

llli-wierring to the drawing, in Figure l there is shown a repeater equipment suitable Vtor reildering reciprocal repeat-ing service l? vtween a plurality of line sections, in Fig. 2 is shown anequipnient suitable :tor a terminal station, wliileiu Fig. 3 is shown details oi' a relay structure which may be employed in the repeater system illustrated in Fig. l.

ln describing the operation oit this system, the reference characters E and lV (F l) indicate respective line conductors which for convenience, may be considered extending to respective east and west stations, while the reference characters N and S indicate other line conductors which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921. Serial No. 268,475.

may be assumed as extending to corresponding north7 and south stations, respectively. The equipment will be understood as present ata repeater station, while the line circuits may be considered as operated on the .so-called closed circuit plan and arranged in such a manner that the polarity of a line battery'at the north station will Ibe the same as the *polarity oit a line battery at the south station, thereby normally7 establishing accumulative current effects in the lino conductor extending between these stations and routed through the circuits oil the repeater equipment. In a. corresponding manner, the line batteries at the east and west stations will be understood to form an accumulative series through the line circuit extending between these stations, and also routed through the repeater equipnient. i A Directing attention to Fig. Q ot' the drawing, the normal position of the usual equipment at a terminal station is shown therein, and provides that during the time a transmitting lier 3l. may be idle, a line battery 32 will he connected over a hey-shunting switch 325 and through the winding of a line relay 5?() to a line conductorL. Since it will be understood that an equipment corresponding with the equipment shown in Fig. 2 may be present at each ot the remote-stations, it will be clear that ou a key-shouting switch, as the switch 33, being opened preparatory to sending, say at the north station, such interruption of the line circuit `will cause cessation of current in the circuit oi the north-south line which may beltraced through the repeater equipment by way, thewindings "2 and 3 of a polar relaj)T l, a conductor 9, the windings lll and l5 and the contacts l? oi a second polar relay ll, thence to the south line. Absence ot current through the relay windings and I3, will permit the current present in the east-westline, the circuit ot which may be traced from the west line by wa;vv oli contact 7 and the windingss and 5 of the rela)r l, a conductor 19 and the windings l2 and 13 of the relay ll to the east line, to cause the armature (l ot the relay l to be moved to its opposite or negative bias, there by separating the contact 7 and closing the contact 8 oi this relay l. lt will he pointed out that the arrangement oi the contacts ot' the relay 1 is such that the contacts 8 may shown in this figure Y close before the contacts 'i' open, and vice versa, this timing relation to be the .saine with respect to the cont s 1T and 18 ot the relay 11 is clearly illustrated by the contact arrangement shown in Fig. 3. lt will be further understood that the relays 1 and 11 ai f to be so constructed or adjusted that the polarizing magnetism will retain the armature ot' each relay in whichef-.fer position it may have been moved and until it is acted upon by current through the relay windings, as will presently appear.

lesuming the description of the operations resulting Lrom the opening of the key at the north sttion. as assumed, the resulting cessation of current through the windings i2 3 of the relay 1 having permitted the current present inthe windings 4 and 5,

as supplied through the circuits ot the eastwest line, to move the armature of this relay to its negative bias, the resulting separation olf the contacts 7 will open the east-west circuit, since the relay 11 continues on its positive bias as shown, thereby causing the conductor extension E22 ci the west line to remain open at the contacts 18 ot the latter relay. From this description, it will be clear 'that opening of the line at the north station will serve directly in causing cessation of current in the south line, as a result of which, current in the east-west line may operate the relay 1 to disconnect and cause cessation of current in the latter line circuit. Accordingly, the receiving devices'at the north, south, east and west stations may respond, as well understood in the art. lf no w a transmitting lrey at the north station, corresponding with the lrey 31, Fig. 2, is closed, as in sending a message, current will be restablished in the repeater circuits which may then be traced from the north line through the windings 2 and 3 of the relay 1 and the contact 8 of this relay to the south line. 1t will be pointed outl that the characters 11H applied to the windings fi and 5 are ttor the purpose oi indicating a predetermined ampere turns ei'lect possible ior these windings, while the characters IN2 applied to the windings 2 and B oi the same relay indicate that in this system the latter windings may Vdevelop an ampere turns strength which, for convenience, may be twice the strength of the ampere turnsl which may be developed by the windings 4. and At this time, in the assumed example, the closed position or the contacts 8 oi the relay 1 establish a short circuit around the windings 14 and 15 of the relay 11 in joining the lines N and S through the windings 2 and 3 of the relay 1, as traced. Therefore, the assumed closing of the key at the north station may establish a line current of maximum strength through the windings 2 and 3, which will impart energetic movement to the armature t and continue to impel it, irrespective of the following closure ot the contacts 7 oi this relay, whereby the E-lV line may be closed to reestablish current through the weaker windings e and 5 of this relay. In this operation, separation of the contacts 8 of the relay 1 merely removes the short circuit from the windings 141 and 15 of the relay 11, thereby inserting these windings in series with the N-S line as alreadytraced.

1n the last described operation of the relay 1, the feature relative to the contacts 7 being established before separation of the contacts 8 takes-place, provides that current in the E-VW line' will be established in the stronger windings 12 and 13 of the relay 11 in advance of current in the N-S line becoming effective in the weaker windings 1/1 and 15 ot the latter relay. This insures that the armature 16 of the relay 11 will continue on its positive bias during periods signaling impulsesoriginating in theVN-S line may be under transmission. Since an open and a closed ,position of the transmitting devices at a sending station, or the equivalent thereoit, are the only operations required in telegraphic sending, it will be clear from the description given that each time the northsouth line may be opened by a transmitting key, in originating a message at any station present on this line, the less powerful windings et and 5 of the relay 1, as energized by current in the east-west line, will move the armature G of the relay to disconnect the latter line circuit. In a converse manner, each closure of a key, as in sending from any station on the north-south line, will establish current through the windings-2 and 3 of the relay 1 to move the armature 6 of this relay toits left-hand position or positive bias, in which it is shown in the drawing.

1t will be pointed out that the structure or adjustment ot the repeater relays should he such that voperating current in the weaker windings may continue until such time as the armature oi the relay may have passed a central or unison point, following which it will complete its stroke through being inipelled or attracted by the polarizing niagnetism of the relay. This may be made clear by considering that on the instant cessation oi? current in the windings 2 and 3 or" the relay 1 results from opening of the northsouth line in sending, current in the eastwest line may act in the windings ,41" and 5 ot this relay until the armature 6 iniiuenced thereby shall have moved to the extent that the contacts 7 may separate to disconnect the east-west line. At this point in its travel, the armature 6 will have come into the influence Zone of the negative pole of the polarizing magnetic circuit of the relay, and this force will serve to continue the travel of the armature vto the final position of its stroke.

During these periods messages may be under transmission from any station on the east-west line, operations ACorresponding with and reciprocal of the operations already described in connection with those taking place when messages are repeated from the north-south line will become ei- ;Fective in repeating messages from the eastwcst line to the north-south line. During these operations the contacts 17 of the relay 11 serveto open and lclose the north-south line in `phase or unison with opening and closing of the east-west line at a sending station, and throughout these operations the relay 1 continues in the position in which it `is, shown in the drawing. @n the eastwest line being opened, closure ot the contacts 18 of the relay 11 serve to prepare a circuit 'for the east-west line by way ot the conductor 22 in the form of a shunt around the windings it and 50i the relay 1, thereby permitting subsequent closing of the eastwest line to initially develop a maximum current strength in the windings 12 and 13 Ot the relay 11 to'energetioally impartmovement to the armature 16 of this relay, which will thereupon iirst close its contact 17, and secondly, separate its contact 18. ln addition to the contact 18 permitting an initial maximum flow of current through windings 12 and 13, the fact that lthese contacts shunt the windings 4 and 5 ofthe relay 1, insures that current of the east-west line may not be established through the latter windings beforethe contact 17 ot the relay 11 may be closed in establishing current of the northsouth line through the windings 2 and 3 ot the vrelay `1, whereby the armature, of this relay will be held in the position in which itisshown.- Q

From the foregoing description it will be clear that in substitution ot either one ot the line sections or branches E, W, N or C the respective conductor or linelead may be grounded -at the repeater station, under whichv condition repeating operations may be carried out between-the remaining line branches in a manner corresponding with those already described without changes in the devices or theinterconnective relation or" the repeater etniipment.` i In case repeater service lis to be employed in situations where it may be required to divide a lone line into a plurality of sections the present systempmay be readily applied, and to illustrate this in connection with the present disclosure letv it be assumed that E represents'oneline section while N represents asecond line section which it is desired to terminato'at a repeater station. By grounding the lead lil, the circuit ot the E line section maybe traced through the windings 13 and 12 ot the relay 11, conductor 19, windings 5 and l and the contacts 7 'of the relay 1 to earth at the lead W, while grounding of the lead S will permit the circuit of the N line section to be traced through the windings Q and 3 otl the relay 1, conductor 9, the windings 14 and 15 and the contacts 17 of the relay 11 to the earth through the lead S. Under this arrangement impulses originating in the E line scction will be repeated into the N line' section through operations at the repeater station corresponding with the operations already described as taking place for the repeating oi signals from the east-west lineV to the 4north-south line. 'In a reciprocal manner, messages originating in the N line section may be repeated into the E line section. It will further be obvious that by grounding the line leads E and N at the repeater station. reciprocal repeating service may be carried out between thc independent line sections lil and S. v i

ln view of the fact that the present repeater system entirely eliminates the mat-- ter oi local circuits at a repeater system it may be particularly pointed out that in connection with the so-called American or closed-circuit systems described, line batteries to either supply all of the current, or to augment line batteries at distant stations on the -lines may be employed at the repeater station. For the lV and S .lines such batteries should pret'erablv be connected respectively in series with these lines beyond their point of connection to the repeater equipment, while for the E and N lines the batteries may be connected in series with these circuits at any point between the respective line and the junction oi the lead from the contacts 18 to the conductor 19 and the junction'formed by the lead from the contacts 8 to the conductor 9, ,It will, of course, be understood that in the substitution oi earth connections VV tor any of the lines E, lV, N or S. as already described,l that such earth connections may first be routed through line batteries at the repeater station and that such batteries may either serve to supply the entire line current which may bc required, or they may serve only to aid other line current sources located at any romote point on the associated line. Y The present system permits an instant application of the service commonly referred to as break signals which may be initiatedby a receiving operator in order .to make a request directed to the sending operator and usually relating to the message under transmission as checking or asking for repetition, etc. In describing the' operations whereby break signals may become eiiective, let it be assumed that during an instant the east-west line may be open `in a sending operation that a west operator breaks by opening a sending key on the latter line branch. Reclosing of the east sending-key will fail to vclose the eastwest line due to the open position of the key at a West station. Therefore, the relay ll Will' continuc on its negative bias andthe open condition of this line, as Well as the open condition ot' the northsouth line due to the continuing negative bias of the relay ll, resultsin the receiving devices. at the sendingstation as Well' as the receiving devices at all other stations manifesting that an inl0 terruptionhas occurred. The Sending operator may thereuponclose thetransmitting key, toits receiving position and receiveithe break request from the West operator.

Asa further break signalcondition,letit be vassumed that While a keyonthe east. line branch may be in its open position in the transmission of a message, a break signal may be initiated byl a key-being,openedl on thenorthsouth line. Accordingly, reclosure of the east-West line at'. the transmittingv station will` permit currcntthroughthe Windiugs lQ'and l3nt' the; relayll tomoverthe armature of this-relay togseparate its con#4 tacts 1S and to closelits contacts- 17- Separation of the latter contacts will removethe shunt path to; permit, current of' the; casts west line tovact' through theiwindings l and 5 or" thel relay l toicausethis relay. to take up its,4 negative bias, therebyv separating its contacts 7 to open: the east-West line While closing its;` contacts 8 toshuntthe; circuit of the north-south line as routed; through the windings 14 and 15; of theY relay 1,1i This interruption of" the; east+west line appri-ses the sending operator thereon of a break signalg and the Sending key to be thereupon" placed inV its closed or receiving position will permit; the operator, who, may` begbrcakingA-on the north-south line,5to;take 4 0 possession oli'v the circuits and transmitfsig nals'; for v whichy thebreak interruption may have been initiated. rLheoperation of break signals `originatin'gin the ,east-.Westilinerwith respect to messages under transmission from thefn'ortlrsouth linetranspire in; amanner corresponding with but, reciprocal of the operationsidescribed as taking place ywhen a station on the north-southstationmay breakl a message originatingv inv theeast-,West line. The arrangement" of the relay structure shown infFig. 3, in addition-tomore clearly showing the timerelation of the contacts, also illustrate a; preferred positioning of the relay windings whereby they may be carried oir suitable cores which, may. form pole extensionsfoffthe member or members comprisf ing the,polarizinginagnetio system.

TWhat is claimed is: l. ln a telegraphA system, a repeater station, two compound Wound relays at' said.

station-,a first7 and a second line conductor Aradiating from said? station and serially -joined through a WindingV of each off said relays; a third andi fourth line conductor l radiating from saidA station 'and serially joined through other windings on eachy of said relays, means for signaling over said linel conductors, and:V contacts. controlled by saidrelays for, reciprocally repeating signals between said' line conductors-. 7o

2. A telegraph repeater system compris. ing apairoff relays,A eachhaying a plurality otwindings, a plurality of; conductors, -each of which have Serially-"`connected therein a pair ot' windings onfeach of said relays, 75v means forsignalingy oven. said. line conclue#l tors, and; contacts controlled by;` said relays for v reciprocally repeating signals between said conductorsy 3. In. a telegraph system, a repeater,v station, a first and a second relay atsaid station, a. pluralityqof line circuits, a first li'ne circuit normally routed,l through; a Winding onthe first one of=;said,relays and a winding and.` contacts of the second relayv to a v second 8 5 line circuit, a third line, circuit, similarly routed through a` second Winding on said second relay and a second; Winding and contact `of saidfirstrelaysito a, fourth linecircuit, means for signaling oyersadf line -circuits andi additional-- contacts in each of said relays Jfor respectively controlling the reciprocal; repeatingy ot signals between said line circuits/,

t.- InV a telegraplirepeater system, a-first and a second-relay,`r irstand second'` contacts controlled by;said(relaysl an earth connect-ion common. to each sety of. contacts on Said re lays, a iirstu line circuit.routedlthrough a firsty winding on each offsaid relaysandfonesetiof' contacts `onthe ,filstlone ,otsaidrelays,` a segond line circuitv routed through ab Second. Winding.v on each one offsaid'jrelays and'l a first., pair cfr-contacts on the secondi, relay, means for signaling over said linefjeircuits,l

'and3 means Y controlled by, the second set; of'

contacts on.4 each.Y of saidi'relays respectively. to cooperate with the, 'rst` sets, of". contacts on said,relaysinreciprocally repeating sig-y nals; between saidV line circuits. i i

5. In atelegrapliv repeater system, a first and a second compound wound polarizedv reT lay, ai lirst. and a secondY set., ot 'contacts' for each oflsad relays, f a rstline circuit routed through av Winding on\` each of" said relays and one set of contactsoffthefi'rst relay to earth, ,Y a second line circuit. routed;V through other windings on saidrelaysland one set of contacts ot the second4 relay4 to earth, means for signalingoversaidlinelcircuits, andy in,- terconnections to respectivelyy enable the second contacts :off said relays to controll shortL circuiting.l of!y the associated Winding andset of contacts or the otherrelayrespectively in carrying out, repeating operations between 1,25 said irstandsecond line circuits,

6. In a telegraph repeater system, a first and a second relay, each hayinga maximum andiaminmum amperefturnsjstrength Winding, a first and a, Secondflinegconductor each respectively routed through the maximum strength winding of one relay and the minimum strength Winding of the other relay, means for signaling over said line circuits, and contacts controlled by said relays for reoiprocally repeating signals between said line circuits.

7. ln a telegraph repeater' system, a pair of relays, each having a plurality of Windings, a plurality of conductors, each of which extend through a pair of windings on eaeh of said relays, means for signaling over said line conductors, and contacts controlled by said relay for reeiproeally repeating signals between said conductors.

8. In a telegraph repeater, a rst and a second polarized relay each having a minimum and a maximum strength Winding, a rst and a second line circuit respectively routed through the minimum strength Winding of one relay and the maximum strength Winding of the other relay respectively, means for signalingover said line circuits, and a plurality of contacts Controlled by each of said relays for reciproeally rendering the eileet of signals in ease of said line circuits effective to establish similar signals in the other line circuit.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of December, A. D.

GEORGE C. CUMMINGS. 

